Pneumatic drop



J. T. COWLEY PNEUMATIC DROP Dec.. 8, 1931.

Filed Feb.. 20, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 8, .1931. J, T, COWLEY1,835,850

PNEUMATIC DROP Filed Feb. 2o, 1928 '3 sheets-sheet s l 'ail-mes CowlekgPatented Dec.. 8, 1931 JABIIES T.

PNEUMATIC DROP 'appiication ined February a0, 192s. sensi No. 255,770.

This invention relatesto a new and iinprovedplate drop vfor conveyingarticlesby gravity from an upperstor'yof a building to lower story, theplatformv of the drop be'- I am aware that pneumatic drops ofV thisgeneral design are well known but all of the drops of this descriptioi'ihitherto known have initially started on their travel either down yor upsolely through the force of gravity. In many cases', however, andparticularly where such drops are used in newspapers or other printingplants it is desirable'that' they be able to complete their' traveleither down or up' in short a period ofltimeas possible and in a shorterperiod of time than such travel will be accomplished if'the force y Innews! paperV plants, it is the'us'ual custom to locate of gravityV aloneis reliedupon.

a stereotype room on the 'top floorofthe building so that the fumesincidental tothey making of the stereotypes will not be `distributedthroughout the building. It is also customary to place the presses onthe rst l or lower floors so that a iirin foundationmay be providedor'the presses which are of a very considerable weight. In order thatthe newspapers or other printed matter may be inished in as short aperiod as possible after the presses have been started running; the

1 stereotype plates must be delivered from' the stereotype room to thepress room with ex V f o n a lower Hoor.

treme rapidity.

ln order to accelerate the movement ofthe drop platforinboth down and upI have constructed a device, the main object of which is to `provide a`nieans whe'i'rebyV the initial movement of the carriage is assistedby asupplementary force whereby the timel of travel of the carriage bothupandl down will be materially lessened. J

Another object is to provide a cushioning means whereby thel stoppage ofthe carriage at "each end of its-travel will be eushiorfied against asudden shock, l

Another object is to' provide a ineanswlierel bythe unloading of thecarriage may be ao-V complished speedily. Other objects and ad-`vantages`relate to the size, s'hap'e'and ar! rangement of parts all aswill more fully appear from the following description taken inconnection with the 'accompanying drawings vin Whiclu; Figure l is anelevation of my device i'nu stalled in a building showing the walls andoors or" the building in section.

Figure 2 is a vertical section partiallyin elevation through the topstation vof the drop showing the carriage in position at such station. Y

Figure 3 isa vertical section partially'vin elevation through the:bottom stationof the drop showing in dotted lines the carriage. inv

position at'such station.

Figurei is atop plan of the bottoni por'- tion of the carriage on linesof Figure 2. Figure 5 isla top plan view partially in section of theb'ottomstation of the drop. lvFigure 6 is a perspective view of astereotype plate which is to be transported on my device, and

Figure 'r' is a sectionpartially inelevation online 7-17 of Figure 2.

My device is designed for transporting articles from an upper' story cfabl'iilding* to a lower story but for the purpose ot eX. plaining thefunctioning of my apparatus' I' havehere shown `a structure which so faras the carriage itselfis concerned is designed for.l the transportationof stereoti' e lates i P from a stereotype room on the upper floor ofa'- printing establishment to the press room My'de'vice is installedinan'open and nobstructed well -l-j extending from thel upper `:floor Q-tothe press room looi"y provide in well a pair of parallel spaced railsand"-5 eiftending from thetop well 144 to the bot# clined rearwardlyfrom ythe perpendicular from a point just above the press room flooroowLnY, or sYnAoUsE, NEW Yonxnssmnon To THElL-Aivison COMPANY;

or sYnAC'Usn, New Yonne eonronarion or iirassaonusn'r'rs s rot -8- and-9- joined together by rear cross member -10- and a central cross member1l- A plurality of shafts 12F is mounted on the side rails -8- and -9-'in v 17 and 18, Fig. 7, extending upwardly from spaced relation7 andcarry on their opposite ends anged rollers --13- positioned with theflanges on the inner ends so that' these flanges may Yact as guides forthe stereotype plate -14- which is semi-circular in cross section whenthe'same is moved along the rollers -12-.. t

On the outer faces of side members 8 and -9- at approximately theircenter point I provide a pair of opposed lianged rollersv -15- and -16-(as perhaps may best be seen in dotted lines on Figure 3) which rollersare positioned to engage guide rails -land -5- to maintain the carriage6 in position during its travel. I also provide on the opposite sides ofcarriage --6- side braces side members 9'- and -8 respectively and being`joined together at their upper ends byY means of across brace 19 419-carries Va vertically extending rod -20- from the center point thereof.This rod 20- carries on its upper end a piston 21 and this rod 20- has alongitudinal aperture for the reception and retention of cord 22-,for apurpose hereinafter to be described. Cross member l1- carries at thecenter point a depending rod 23,- whicli has affixed at the lower endthereof a .The upper end of cylinder -25- is otherwise closedv exceptfor an adjustable air cock -'-29 positioned in the top end of cylinderu--25- for a purpose hereafter described. Valve -27- is normally closedso that the supply of compressed air is cut-off from the inside ofcylinder -25-. Operatinglever -30 pivotally mounted on the body of valve-27- is positioned against a pin -31- connected with the valve stem, not

shown, of valve -27- so that when arm SO- is moved about its pivot itwill bear against pin w-31-- and raise the valve from its vseat topermit the passage of the compressed air into cylinder -25-.

I also provide above cylinder -25- and supported by any convenientmeansyas for example a cross beam --32- a sheave 33- positioned toreceive cord -22- which cord -22-- is secured in rod V-2O- extending up-Cross brace wardly through rod -20- and through cap -34- positioned onthe upper part of the body of cylinder -25-. I also provide a stopmember -35- depending from cross beam A26 and extending downwardlyadjacent the loading opening 3S- through which` the stereotype platesV14- are delivered on to the carriage -6-.

A cushioning cylinder -37- as may perhaps best be seen from Figure 1) ispositioned in well -1- in parallel relation to tracks f4- and -5 and ofapproximately the same length. The cord -22- extends over and aroundsheave B3-'and dgwnwardly rinto'the upper end of cushioning` cylinder-37- and carriesonits lower end a plunger -38-g-,-shownin Figure 3.Cushioning cylinder 37- carriesfat both its upper and lower ends a pairof air cocks -39- for a purpose hereinafter to be described. The lengthofthe cord 22,--v is such that when the carriage --'is at .fthe upperstation floor -2- the bottomofplunger 38- will be approximately. atfthelower end of the cushioning lcylinder 37-. y y Y The upper station Vatfloor `-2- alsois provided with a feeding conveyor -40- of similarconstruction to the bottom frame 7*- of the carriage -6- as respects the(shafts --12- and is so positioned that Vwhen the carriage -6- is intheraised position a stereotype plate 14- may pass from feedingconveyor-tO- onto carriage -6-.

The lower station for my apparatus at bottom Iioor -3- (as perhaps maybest be seen from Figure V.3) consists of a cylinderV 41- aiiixed to anyconvenient supporting means, as for example cross beam -l2. Cylinder 41-has its upper end open and is offa size and shape to receive and co-actwith piston -`2ll which depends from the under surface of carriage 6-'.A source of compressed air, not shown, is connected through'valve -B-and pipe 411- to the lower end of cylinder lll-1 An air cock 45eis alsoconnected to the lower end of cylinder .-41- for apurpose hereinafter tobe described. y

Valve--llis normally closed so that the supply of compressed air will becut off from cylinder -l1 but I provide an actuating means for valve4L3- consisting of an operating lever -IG- pivotally mounted on thetopofbody 43.- and co-acting with the valve stem, not shown, of thevalve, not shown, of valve -43-. I also provide a lever M -pivotallymounted on a receiving conveyor Ll8- hereinafter to be described. Theforward end oflever -47- normally extends upwardly and is provided witha roller -50-- The rear end of lever 4:7- extends downwardlyland isconnected to the forward end oflever -46- by link -51-. It will be seenthat when the forward end o f lever'-,47- is depressed the rear end ofThe receiving conveyor 4S-f (as perhaps may best be seen from Figureconsists of side frames -f and. which carry a series oflongitudinally-spacedrshafts 5G- which are the same design as shafts 12hitherto described. The lever .-iris pivotally i the initial movement ofcarriage --6-y downmounted at the center' point of a rod -57 whichispositioned transversely of receiving conveyor 4S-f.'

Atthe lower station, Anow beingdescribed, l also providea means forassisting the initial unloading movement of themerchandise beingconveyed which in thisinstance consists of a bell. crank -58- pivotallymounted on a rod +59- (as perhaps may best be seen in Figure 5)extending transversely of well -.1--. i I also provide belowbell'crank-58-f a crank -60- pivotally mountedon a second rod -xl-f extendingltransverselyv of well -1- in parallel relation withrod` ew-. I connectthel upperV endof bell crank v--58-V to the Vforward end of crank 60- bymeans of a link 439,- so that the downward Y movement of crank .-60-through link` -62- will `depress the rearwardly-extending upper arm ofbell crank 5S-and thereby cause the dependingarm of bell crank -58.- tobe moved 'forward towards and over the carriage -6-. I also provide a1spring 6B-connected to crank 60el to yieldingly hold the same normallyin a raised position.

rEhe operation .of my device is as follows: Vith the carriage G--at theupper station at floor 2-, a stereotype plate'14.--, having' been placedon feedingconveyor -40-,

will move toward welly -el--V and through.

opening e36- onto carriage -6-. As a stereotype plate -l/lpasses on tocarriage -6- it will Contact with arm SO- moving the same forward.H Thismovement as above described will opengvalve -2!-, the further forwardmovement of stereotype plate lllvbeing stepped by-perpendicularchecltplate lextending i transversely of y carriage Valve -.27-. beingopen a supply of compressed air will be introduced into cylinder -Q5 onthe upper .surface of` piston -21- which will force piston 2lout fromcylinder -25- and greatly accelerate ward. Then carriage e6-.reaches thebottcm of well-41- the piston 24- Vwill enter cylinder f-41--compressing the air in the cylinder 4:1- which will act ,as a cushionvfor the'stopping of the downward movement of carriage .-6-. Air cock `45is provided in cylinder 4L-,- so that the compressed air may be allowedtoy escapeat the best ratev to accomplish this cushioning action. Atithe same time the downward movement of carriage -6-,- through cord 22`will have raised plunger -v-SS- in cushioning cylinder +37- which vwillcompress the air in cushioning cylinder -37- to assist in cushioning thestoppage of the downward movement of carriage 6. Air cocks -39-- in theupper end ofcushioning cylinder -37- are provided so that theV rate Aatwhich the compressed air may escape from the upper end of cushioningcylinder --37 may be regulated to obtain the best results in cushioningthe stoppage of the downward movementl of carriage 6e-1 As carriage -6-approaches the lower station (as perhaps may best be seen from dottedlines in Figure 3) the cross memamanner heretofore described, and willcontact with stereotype 414.-, to move the same forward from carriage 6-on to receiving conveyor 4S-1 This Aforward movement .ofy stereotype--14- is also acceleratedy due to the fact that the lower ends of rails-4- and --5- are inclined rearwardly which will result in cantingcarriage -6-1 so that the rear end of the same will be higher than theforward end and the force ofgravity will be exerted on stereotype 14- tocause movement of stereotype -l'ofi' carriage -6-.

As stereotype .-lLl-- moves on to receiving conveyor -48-4- `its forwardend will contactfwith roller -'50- and will depress the forward end oflever iT- which, as heretofore described, willresult in the opening ofvalve -`-43- andtheintroduction of compressed air into cylinder -4l1-.The compressed air in cylinder '-41 will exert force against the bottomface of piston 2aand in consequencewill greatly accelerate the. initialstarting movement of car- It will be understood that the weight of thecarriage .--6- and the weight of the plunger #S8-f are so proportionedwith reference to each other that when no load is on thecarrf'age -'6`-the weight of plunger 438-- will be greater than kthe weight ofcarriage-6- so that the latter will be moved upwardly by the force ofgravity. Thesetwo weights, however, are so propere tioned that when astereotype lai--V is placed on 'carriage -6-- the combined weightof'carriage and stereotype 14 will be greater than the weight of plunger*38% so that the loaded carriage will move downwardly through the forceof gravity.y i e upper movement of the carriage. AAir cock -29-A isprovided in the upper. endof cylinder so that the rate of escape of theair so compressed maybe regulated toob tain the best results in thecushioning action; it the same time the movement of the plunger -38-,Mdownwardly will compress the air in the lower end of cushioningcylinder-37 to assist in the cushioning of the stoppage of the upper movement ofcarriage Air cocks u-39- are provided in the lower end of cushioninglcylinder so that the rate of escape'of the air to obtain so compressedmay be regulated the best cushioning result. Y

The height of roller -50- above receiving conveyor -t8- is such thatwhen stereotype -ii has engaged roller -50 andl depressed the forwardyend of Alever aT-4 in the manner just 'described stereotype lawillcontinue to inove forwardlyover roller and pass beyond the' samepermitting lever'H-i to return to the normal or closed position. 1 'Y ltwill be apparent that stereotype 1- might move forward on feedingconveyor iO- at a time when the carriage "t5- was not in position toreceive it. In: order that this may not happen l provide the meinberm535-. hitherto mentioned which conssts of a stop member slidablymounted in a carrying member 66; which is supported from .cross beam-26- Stop nember M65- is normally in the down posi-` tion indicated indotted lines on FigureZ at which time itwill be inl the path of movementof stereotype 14- so that the same cannot move forwardly oil fromfeeding con-V veyor-iO-. Movable member -65- car-r ries an outwardlyextending flange- 67- disposed inthe path'of movement of a pin -6S-carried by side member iS- 'of carriage -G- so that when carriage 6-reaclies the upper station pinl` 68 will Contact with flange -67- andwill move member 65- upwardly. and out of the path of movement of astereotype -llto permit the forward movement of stereotype llil on tocarriage -6-.

' It will be understood that although I haveV shown and described anapparatus which in the form of its details is'particularly designed forthe transportation of stereotype plates such as are shown in Figure 6yet the details of my structure can be modified to co-act withmerchandise of other sizes and shapes and for transportation either upor down without departing 'from the spirit of y my invention. It wouldalso be understood' .that various means may be used for lexert-4r f ingthe pressure of the compressed air against the carriage at either thetop or botto1n` position of vthe same. For example, it will be entirelyfeasible to have the pistons described iXed at the top and bottom of thewell with cylinders carried on the top and bottom of the carriage. Othermodifications might also be made by which this pressure of air againstthe carriage for accelerating its initial'movement would beaccomplished, for although l. have shown and described a specificstructure and form of part as an exemplication of an embodiment of myinvention l do not desire to restrict myself to the exact size, shapeand relation of parts as'various changes may be made within the scope ofthe appended claims.

^ l/Vhat I claim is:

l. 'ln 'a device of the classdeseribed, a vertically movable carriage, acounterweight co-.acting with the carriage, a piston carried onthe upperpartof the carriage, a cylinder positioned at the top point of travel ofthe carriage and adapted to coact with the piston, a source of supply ofair under pressure, an automatic means for introducing air underpressure into theinner end of the cylinder whereby the piston is lforcedoutwardly from the cylinder.

2. ln a device of the class described, a vertically movable carriage, acounterweight coacting with the carriage, a piston carried on the underpart ofthe carriage a cylinder positioned at the bottom point of travelof the carriage and adapted to coact with the piston, a source of supplyof air under pressure, an automatic means for introducing air underpressure into the inner end of the cylinder whereby the piston is forcedoutwardly from the cylinder.

3. In a device of the class described, a vertically movable carriage, acounterweight coacting with the carriage, a piston carried on the upperpart of the carriage, a cylinder positioned at the top point of travelof the carriage and adapted to coact with the piston, a second pistoncarried on the bottom part of the carriage, a second cylinder positionedat the lbottom point oftravel of the carriage and adapted to coact withthe secondy named piston, a source of supply of air under pressure,automatic means for introducing air under pressure into theinner end ofthe iirst named cylinder when the first named piston is positioned insuch cylinder, and additional automa'tic means for introducing air underpressure'into the inner end of the second named cylinder when the secondnamed piston is positioned therein. y

t. ln a device' of the class described, a vertically movable carriage,a'counterweight co-acting with'the carriage, a piston carried on theupper part'of the carriage, a cylinder positioned at the top point oftravel of the carriageand adaptedto coact with the pis-Y tonf,asource-'ofsupply of air under pressure,

automatic means for introducing air under pressure into tlie'inner endof ther` 'cylinder wlierebythe piston is forced outwardly from thecylinder, and means for "automatically Vstoppin g such introductionof`airunder' pressure.

5. In a device of the classdescribed, avertically movable carriage,acounterweight coacting with the carriage, a piston carried on. the underpart of the carriage, a cylinder positioned atthe bottom point oft'ravelof o acting with the carriage, a piston carried on theupper part of thecarriage, a cylindervpo sitioned at the top point of travel of thecarriage and adapted to coact with the piston, a second piston carriedon the bottom part ofthe carriage, a second cylinder positioned at thebottom point of travel ofthe carriage and adapted to coact with thesecond named piston, a source of supply of air under pressure, automaticmeans forV introducing air under pressure into the inner end of thefirst named cylinder when the irstfnamed piston is positioned in suchcylinder', additional automatic means for introducing air underpres-` asure into the inner endot the second 'fnamed cylinder when the secondnamed piston is positioned therein, and independent means forautomatically lstopping such introduction of air under pressure. e Y

7 In a device of the class described, a vertically movable -V carriage,automatic means for placing on thecarriage an article` to'be transportedthereon, a counterweight coacta ing with the carriage, apiston carriedon the upper part of the carriage, acylinder positioned at 'the toppoint of travel of thecarriage and adapted to coact with the piston, asecond piston carried on the bottomlpart of the carriage,a second'cylinderpositioned at the bottom point yoi? travel of the carriage andadapted to coact with'the second named piston, a source of supply or airunder pres# sure, automatic means' forr introducing air under pressureinto lthe inner en d of the first named cylinder when the kfirst namedpiston is positioned in suoli cylinder, and additional automatic meansfor introducing airfunder` pressure into the inner en d of the secondnamed cylinder whenthe second named pis? ton is `positioned therein. `1

8. In a device of the'class describecha ver`y tically movable carriage,automatic meansfor placing on the carriagean article to be transportedthereon, a counterweight Acoact ingwith the carriage, a piston carriedon the upper part of the`carriage',"a cylinder posi# tioned atthe toppoint of travel of the car'-` riage and adapted to coactwith the piston,a second piston carried on the bottom partv of the'carriagea secondcylinder positioned at the bottom point of travel ofthe carriage andadapted to coact with the second named piston, a source ofsup-ply of'air under pressure, automatic means ,for introducing air under pressureinto the inner end of the first .named cylinder when the first namedpiston is positioned in such cylinder,'additional automatic means forintroducing air'under pressure intd'the inner end of the secondnamedcylinder when the second named piston is positioned therein, independentmeans for removing such article rom'the carriage after thetransportation of the same has Ybeen completed. 1 v f 9. In a device ofthe class'described,`a vertically movable carriage, a' source of supplyof fluid under pressure, automatic means for directingsuch fluid againstthe carriage when the latteris in the top position only during theinitial downward movement of the carriage. Y,

l0. In a device of the' class described, a

vertically'movable carriage, a source of supply of luidunderpressure'automatic means for directing suoli Huid against thecarriagewhen the lat-.ter is in the bottom position only during theinitialupward movement of the carriage. .y j

Il. In a device` of. the class described, a vertically movable carriage,a source ofsupply of fluid under pressure, automatic means whereby onlythe initial downward movementv of the carriage is accelerated by suchluid imder pressure, and ladditional Yautomatic means whereby onlyftheinitialupward movement of the carriage is accelerated by such fluidunder pressure. A i

12,.` In a device of the class described, a well extending betweenfloors of a building, a vertical track in said well, a carriagevertically movable along said track, a counterweight vcoacting with thecarriage, apiston extend# ing upwardly from the upperpart of the carvriage,y a second piston extending downwardly from thebottom part ofthecarriage, a cylinderfhavingoneopen end adapted to coact with the firstnamed piston and positioned at the top point of travel of the carriage,a second cylinder having one open end adapted to coact with the secondnamed piston and positioned at thebottonipoint of travelof thecarriage,air cocks in the closed ends of said cylinders for'permitting thegradual escape-of air when a piston enters a cylinder,

' a source of supply of air under pressure, automatic means/fordelivering such air to the closed end of the firstpnamed cylinder when*the piston on the upper part of the carriage Ais positioned in saidcylinder, and additionall automatic means for delivering such air to thekclosed end ofthey second named `cylinder when the piston on the bottompart of the ycarriage is positioned therein.

` 13. In a device of the class described, a vertically movablecarriage,a. source of supply of fluid under pressure, automatic means fordirecting such fluid against the carriage when the latter is in the topposition only during the initialdownward movement .of the carriage, suchautomatic means being actuated by the load toy be Ycarried byr thecarriage when'said loadV is moved onto the carriage.

14. Ina device of the class described, veri tically movable carriage, asource of supply of fluid under pressure, automatic means for directingsuch fluid y against the carriage when the latter isin the bottomposition only during the initial upward movement of the carriage, suchautomatic means being actuated by the load being carried by the carriagewhen such load moves of from the car.- riagei.

` 15. vIn a device of the class described, a vertically movablecarriage,'a source ofsupply-of fluid under pressure, automatic meansactuated by the load to be carried when the same moves onto the carriagefor directing such fluid against the carriage when the latter is in thetop position only during the initial ldownward movement ofthe carriage,and additional-automaticI means. actuated by such load when the samemovesv off'l fromv the carriage for directing such fluid againstthecarriage when the latter is in the bottom position only kduring vtheinitial upward movement of the carriagelf, l

16. In a device of the class described, a vertically movable carriage, asource of supply of fluid under pressure, automatic means at one end'ofthe travel of the carriage actuated by the load to he carried when thesame moves onto the carriage for causing the pressure of the fluid to beexerted on the carriage only during the initial movement of thecarriage, and additional means at the other end of travel of thecarriage actuated by the carried load when lthe same moves oli from thecarriage for causing the pressure of the fluid aA means for compressinga fluid at one end of the car path,`and means wherebya `compresslblefluid may be expanded to give the car an initial acceleration away fromthat end of they-path.

Apparatus of the class described comprismg av car moving upwardiy`andwdownwardly" along a predetermined path, a`

counterweight connected to the car, whereby the latter whenvloaded tendsto move downwardly and when unloaded tends to move upwardly, shockabsorbing means including a means for compressing a fluid at one end ofthe car path, and means whereby a compressible fluidmay be expanded togive the car an initial acceleration away from that end of the path,which means are automaticallyactuated by the load as it is removed fromthe car.

,20. Apparatus of the class described, coinprising a car moving upwardlyand downwardly along 'a predetermined path, la. counterweight connectedto the car, whereby the'latter when loaded tends to move downwardly andwhen unloaded tends lto move upwardly, means carried by the car, andmeans at one end of the car path adapted to co-act with saidcar carriedmeans to decelerate the movement of the car upon approaching the pathend and to accelerate its movement'upon its leaving that end.

21. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a car moving upwardlyand downwardly along a predetermined path, a counterweight connected tothe car, whereby the latter when loadedtends to move downwardly and whenunloaded tends to move upwardly, and lmeans adapted to decelerate themovement of the car upon approaching one end of the path and toaccelerate its movement upon its leaving that end, said means includinga piston carried by the car and a cylinder adapted to receive the'pistonat that end of the path, and means for admitting compressed air to thecylinder to accelerate the movement of the' car away from that end. 22.Apparatus of the class described, comprising a car' moving upwardly anddownwardly along a predetermined path, a counterweight connected to thecar, whereby the latter when-loaded tends to move downwardly and whenunloaded tends to move upwardly, and means adapted to decelerate themovement of the car upon approaching one end of the path and toaccelerate its movement upon its leaving that end, said means includinga piston carried by the car anda cylinder adapted to receive the pistonat that end of the path, and means automati- Lso cally actuated by theload as it is placed upon the car for admitting compressed air to thecylinder to accelerate the movement of the car away from that end. Y-

23. Apparatus of the class described', comprising a car moving upwardlyand down-y wardly along a predeterminedpatlnacounterweight connected tothe car, Vwhereby the latter when loaded tends to move downwardly l andwhen unloaded tends to move upwardly,

ed to receive the piston at that end ot the.

path, and means automatically actuated by the load as itis removed fromthe car for admitting compressed air to the cylinder to accelerate themovement of the car away from that end.

24:. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a car moving upwardlyand downwardly in a predetermined path, a-counterweight connected to thecar, whereby the latter when loaded tends to move downwardly and whenunloaded tends to move upwardly, and means to decelerate the movement ofthe car upon approaching the upper end of its path and to accelerate itsmovement upon leavingrthe same, said means including a piston carried bythe car and a cylinder adapted to receive the piston at the upper end ofits path, and control means `for admitting compressed air to thecylinder to give initial downward acceleration to the car, saidlast-named means being automatically actu- Y able in response to theloading of the car at the top of its path.

25. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a car moving upwardlyand downwardly in a predetermined path, a counterweight connected to thecar, whereby the latter when loaded tends to move downwardly and whenunloaded tends to move upwardly, and means adapted to decelerate themovement of the car upon approaching the lower end of its path toaccelerate its movement upon leaving that end, said means including apiston carried by the car, and a cylinder at the lower end of theplunger path and control means associated therewith for admittingcompressed air to the cylinder to `give initial upward acceleration tothe car, said control means being automatically actuable in response tothe removal of a load from the car` when the latter is at the lower endof its path.

26. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a car moving upwardlyan-d downwardly in a predetermined path, a counter- 1 weight connectedto the car, whereby the lat- 'A preaching the path end and to accelerateits movement upon leaving the path end, said v means including pistonscarried by the car and cylinders located at the ends'of the paths of thepistons, and control means associated with the cylinders for admittingcompressed air to the same to give initial acceleration to the car, saidcontrol means being automatically actuable in response to the loading ofthe car at the upper end of its path and in response to the unloading ofthe same at the lower end of its path.

27. An apparatus of the class Y described comprising a verticallymovable carriage having anupper station stop and a lower station stop,means for moving said carriage vin one vertical direction, andadditional means at each of said stops for automatically deceleratingthe lcarriage upon its arrival and givingto the carriage an initialmovemen upon its departure away from the respective stop stations.

28. An apparatus of the class described comprising a vertically movablecarriage having an upper station stop and a lower station stop, meansfor moving said carriage in one vertical direction, `and additionalmeans at each of said stops for automatically decelerating the carriageupon its arrival and giving to the carriage an initial acceleratedmovement upon its departure away from the respective stop stations. I

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 6th day of February1928.

' c JAMES T. COWLEY.

zo f

